Kouchner says Russia has broken international law
The Associated PressFrench Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday accused Russia of breaking international law by recognizing the independence of the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Kouchner also warned in an interview with Europe 1 radio of signs of ethnic cleansing by Russian forces in South Ossetia.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and Kouchner has played a leading role in trying to ease the Russia-Georgia crisis. France called a Sept. 1 EU meeting in Brussels to focus on what steps the 27-member bloc will take in terms of aid to Georgia and future relations with Russia.
"We cannot accept these violations of international law, of accords for security and cooperation in Europe, of United Nations resolutions, and the taking ... of a territory by the army of a neighboring country," Kouchner said.
Asked about his own earlier comments warning of a risk of ethnic cleansing by Russian forces in the territories, Kouchner responded: "I hope that didn't happen overnight. But there has already been evidence that the armies are pushing away the Ossetians who favored Georgia, and in a certain way, yes, an ethnic cleansing is taking place."
"This is going to get worse, and it's an extremely dangerous situation," he said.
Russia's recognizing independence for South Ossetia and Abkhazia has been widely condemned by EU countries, and President Bush called it an "irresponsible decision."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Georgia forced Russia's hand by trying to reassert control by force in the smaller of the two regions, South Ossetia, on Aug. 7. The self-governing regions seek independence from Georgia and eventual annexation to Russia.